Ship Passage Water Sprinkling for Ammonia Leak Containment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ammonia gas leakage in ships poses a risk due to its irritant nature and potential to form mist, which can affect crew members and passengers, necessitating effective measures to prevent contact.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of water sprinkling equipment and recovery systems to separate and neutralize ammonia gas in ship passages, using water nozzles and recovery trays to contain and discharge ammonia-contaminated water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ammonia is loaded as fuel or cargo in ships, then propulsion efficiency and cargo capacity are improved, but the risk of ammonia gas leakage and its harmful effects on crew members and passengers increase
Solution Approach 1:
A water sprinkling system is introduced as an intermediary substance between the ammonia gas and the crew/passengers. The water absorbs ammonia gas through dissolution, forming ammonium hydroxide, thereby preventing direct contact between the harmful ammonia gas and human occupants. This mediator approach effectively neutralizes the harmful effects while allowing ammonia to be used as fuel or cargo.
2Reliability
If escape routes are provided for crew evacuation, then safety during fire accidents is improved, but the routes may still be exposed to ammonia gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
Water sprinkling equipment is pre-installed along the escape routes and configured to automatically activate upon detection of ammonia gas leakage. The system performs preliminary protection by continuously or automatically applying water to potential hazard zones before crew members need to evacuate, ensuring the escape routes remain safe during both fire and ammonia leakage scenarios.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If water sprinkling equipment is installed to suppress ammonia gas, then the harmful effects of ammonia leakage are reduced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water sprinkling system is designed to serve multiple functions: it suppresses ammonia gas leakage effects, provides fire suppression capability, and can be integrated with existing ship safety systems. By making the system multi-functional, the patent reduces overall device complexity and justifies the added components through broader safety coverage beyond just ammonia suppression.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively reduces the influence of ammonia gas within the ship by suppressing its invasion and contact with passengers or crew members, ensuring safer evacuation routes.
Implementation Method 1
water sprinkling equipment capable of sprinkling water to the passage... suppressing an invasion of an ammonia gas produced by vaporization of the leaked ammonia to the passage
Implementation Method 2
water sprinkling equipment capable of sprinkling water to the passage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This ship comprises a ship body, a tank, and sprinkling equipment. The ship body has a passage. The tank is provided to the ship body and can store ammonia. The sprinkling equipment can sprinkle water into the passage.